Spectrum by Blue Fin? Bashing accepted.

[EricCO]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-25-00 AT 05:07PM (CST)[p]As many of you know, I am looking for a used aluminum fishing boat. I ran across a 1992 Spectrum 1906 19' with a 1992 120 Force and 1992 15 hp kicker. The carpet was a little warn, but the floor was surprisingly firm even on the doors to storage. They are asking $10,500, but by using www.nadaguides.com I could only get a value around $7,000. Why the difference? Any comments on Spectrum boats or Force motors?

P.S.
I accept bashing of any brand under my posts.

[larry co]

Eric, I had a 1990 Spectrum with the 90 force. The boat cracked ahead of the windshield and i replaced the powerhead on the motor by 1992.Sold the boat in 1994 for 3800 and glad to get rid of it.Didn't use it very hard or very much ether. I'd keep looking.

[Kevin A]

No direct experience with spectrum boats so I'll reserve what I have heard.

As for nada.com or buc.net...both of these sites are an e-face for businesss that are mainly in the business of selling value guides for the auto & truck markets(HUGE markets relative to boat sales). I've checked on several boats on traderonline.com, with each boat having 5 or 6 sellers, and have seen no real relationship between asking prices and suggested nada values. The difference between them was as much as $5-$6000. If you take 10-15% off these asking prices they still don't compare to nada prices. The difference can't be accounted for by a "blue book" or "wholesale" value as a wholesale market for boats doesn't exist.

Next I took a look at one boat from year 2000 back 5-6 years using buc.net & nada.com. I then fit either a second degree polynomial or a line to the data and in both cases I got virtually a perfect fit. What does this mean?

1) The odds of getting perfect fits on this type of data, that varys in actual selling or asking price depending on the region, is somewhere between slim & none.
2) That both nada.com & buc.net use standard mathematical depreciation models (the lines I fit are the models) and then build elaborate guides to sell you. Ton's of great info that means basically nothing.

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I've talked to two marine surveyors about nada & buc & they both said they are a laughing stock when it comes to boats. Buc used to gather actual data years ago, but stopped.

If you want to know what a boats worth find the same model for sale in as many places as you can find. Take an average, deduct 10 or 15% and work from there.

[curt quesnell]

ericCO..

i got nothin against spectrums or force motors....
they seem to do the job. and i kind of like the looks
of the boat....

but unless there is a mobile home that comes with the
deal..the guy is just nuts and wants way Way WAY too much.

its not worth it.....it probably didnt cost 10 grand when
it was new...7 grand is still too much....5 sounds more like
it....(is it loaded down with electronics?) if you can buy
it for a fair price it might be a good boat....for 10 grand
you can get twice the boat two years newer.

just look at the classifieds here on walleye central and
see whats available...(you wont find many spectrums with
force motors)...you may find a few boats in the same age class
and be able to compare some values....

be patient man....the perfect boat is waitin for you out there.
dont be afraid to shop some

curt quesnell

[curt quesnell]

ericCO..

i got nothin against spectrums or force motors....
they seem to do the job. and i kind of like the looks
of the boat....

but unless there is a mobile home that comes with the
deal..the guy is just nuts and wants way Way WAY too much.

its not worth it.....it probably didnt cost 10 grand when
it was new...7 grand is still too much....5 sounds more like
it....(is it loaded down with electronics?) if you can buy
it for a fair price it might be a good boat....for 10 grand
you can get twice the boat two years newer.

just look at the classifieds here on walleye central and
see whats available...(you wont find many spectrums with
force motors)...you may find a few boats in the same age class
and be able to compare some values....

be patient man....the perfect boat is waitin for you out there.
dont be afraid to shop some

curt quesnell

[MR.Pike]

Eric, Curt is on to somthin here. I'm guessin round my area it would see a tag of about $4000-$4500. Not a bad boat but not new either.
I'd go with something listed here in the classifieds first,hope you find a descent, used ,boat!




<;{{{{{<<( Mr.Pike

[OOC]

My good friend is a certified mechanic at a large marina that sold Spectrum boats for a while and owned one himself.His went back to the factory to be re-welded as did most this dealer sold.this is a welded not riveted hull.Due to so many problems they dropped the line.Maybe the boat you're looking at has been straightened out and is fine.The force motor is reliable just cheaper as it old merc and chrysler technology.he'd answer this himself if he wasn't on a fishing vacation far away from civilization.(luck boy).As for the price,it soulds like Pro V money to me!I'll sell my 90 PRO V 1700 on a 98 shorelander bunk with a 99 Johnson 115 for a little more then that asking price!what's wrong?Nothing much.Watch for the classified ad.

[Eyez]

I've never driven, ridden in, or even taken a close look at anything made by spectrum, so I can't honestly say about the boat, but I'd agree with the others that it's absolutely not worth that money. case in point, a buddy of mine bought a 92 alumacraft trophy 190 with a 120 evinrude, and a new minn kota on the bow this spring. he paid 8500, and his boat is in near new condition. For 10K you can get a good, early 90's 18' tyee or crestliner with a good motor and some electronics, definitely a better deal than the blue fin.


Eyez

[leechboy]

Not to belabor the point, but as the line from the movie "used cars" goes, "that price is just too f#$ing high!". Way more newer better rig for that kind of cash. Happy hunting.

[Hans]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaay overpriced, perhaps worth no more than half that.

Hans
--
"There is nothing; absolutely nothing; half so much worth doing,
as simply messing about in boats." :-)

[Hogger]

I thought you said aluminum not gold - that price is far too high. Just for comparison, my 94 Ranger sold for that last spring and the boat was in top condition.

I won't comment on the Spectrum, but Force was the old Chrysler motor design. The plant and name are subsidiaries of Merc/Brunswick.

[EricCO]

Is there something wrong with a chrysler designed motor? Are they to be avoided at all costs?

The boat didn't appear to have any gold in it, but there must be a reason.

What can I expect to be a fair markup since boats are a huge business in Colorado. The old supply demand thing. I need to figure in the cost of going to Minnesota to get a boat. $1,000?

[Boatnut]

Eric,
I bought a 1989 19' spectrum 2 years ago for 4500. it has a 4 cyl. i/o in it. it came with new canon downriggers and an autopiilot trolling motor. also had new "stand up " custom bimini top and side curtains. It's been a good boat, for the inland lake that i use it on. Gotta replace the floor though.
I think the boat your looking at is WAY overpriced. try searching boattraderonline.com and do some comparison shopping.
Mike(boatnut)